The chairs are scarlet and gilt-japanned throughout, each profusely decorated with outstanding gilded chinoiserie scenes on a magnificent brillient red ground with figures and floral motifs. The vase shaped splat and tapering caned seat stand upon cabriole front legs terminating in ball and claw feet united by turned stretchers connecting swept back legs.

It is especially rare to offer a set of six japanned chairs, which were likely originally part of a larger suite of eight or twelve. The decoration is of particularly high quality, fluent and lively.

The chairs are naturally associated with the famous Infantado suite of red-japanned furniture supplied by Giles Grendey for the Duke of Infantado of the Spanish castle of Lazcano, which has become symbolic of this type of furniture. The present examples, however, are different in form and compare more closely with a pair of chairs, though green and gilt-japanned, in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg.¹ Another known set of six chairs, though with elaborate crestings and higher backs denoting a slightly earlier date, is illustrated by Partridge.² A black-japanned chair is illustrated by Dr Bowett.³

¹ H. Huth, Lacquer of the West: The History of a Craft and an Industry, 1550-1950 (Chicago, 1971), fig. 88

² Partridge Fine Arts, 1988 Summer Exhibition Catalogue, No. 10, pp. 30-2

³ A. Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740 (Woodbridge, 2009) p. 158, pl. 4:29